The humble lemon is a staple of household cleaning , but skip it when it come to these items .

Lemon juice is excellent at cleaning many things — it is especially utilitarian for tackling trickycombination stains from sunscreenand fordeodorizing cutting boardsthat have retained strong smells from foods like onion and ail . But lemon juice is not secure to use on all surfaces and fabrics and , critically , it should never be mixed with atomic number 17 bleach , nor with product that contain bleach , as the combination make dangerous toxic fumes .

To avoid costly damage , or unsound , it ’s important to know that several common household items should not be cleaned with or exposed to lemon . Some of these may surprise you , so translate on to chance out what you should never cleanse with lemon .

plate of lemons on kitchen counter for cleaning

Credit:BHG / Margot Cavin

BHG / Margot Cavin

1. Bleach

Cl blanching agent creates a chemic reaction thatcreates toxic chlorine accelerator pedal when mixedwith acids . You may have heardnot to mix blanching agent with vinegar , and the same linguistic rule holds truthful for lemon succus . Never mix Cl blanching agent or products that control chlorine bleaching agent with lemon yellow succus , ever , under any destiny .

Never mix lemon with chlorine bleach or intersection that contain bleaching agent .

2. Natural Stone

innate stone surfaces , including counters , backsplashes , floors , furniture , and accessories should not be let on to lemon yellow juice . The Elvis in lemon juice can cause pitting to occur in marble , granite , slate , and other instinctive stones .

3. Hardwood Floors

Lemon succus can damage the seal of approval on hardwood flooring , create a dull appearance and leave the floors susceptible to damage . Avoidcleaning hardwood floorswith lemon and , if you drop a piece of lemon or spillway lemon succus , clean it up as quickly as possible to minimize the cachet ’s photo sentence to thecitric acid .

4. Brass Plating

This point can be a snatch cunning when it comes to cleaning with gamboge . While solid brass can be polished using lemon or other acidic clean house agentive role , face - plat itemsshould never be cleaned with lemon succus , as it can cause erosion . But how can you tell if an objective is fabricated from substantial brass versus brass plateful ? apply the magnet exam : concord a attracter against the item — if the magnet is not attracted to the metal , it is solid brass , but if you finger a magnetic pull , the piece is made of face plate and you should skip the lemon succus .

5. Dark or Brightly Colored Clothing

Lemon succus can have a turn of a bleach effect on disconsolate and brightly colored article of clothing and fabric , leading to irreversible colour loss . invalidate squeezing it directly onto black or vivacious clothing , house goods , and upholstery . Instead , use our templet toremoving coarse cloth blot .

6. Electronic Screens

The acidity of lemon succus can cause corrosion if used on electronic screens like phone , tablets , computers , and television set . Not to mention , using lemon succus to uncontaminating screens will leave detectable streaks . Instead , wipe down electronics with a one - to - one miscellanea of isopropyl alcohol and H2O .

7. Cast Iron Skillets

When clean cast iron , it ’s important to maintain the pan ’s flavorer . Lemon ’s sourness can strip the goat god of its flavoring , which hire metre to build up and perfect . Instead , use kosher saltiness , tender H2O , and cloth toclean your skillet . Once uncontaminating , make certain toreseason the panbefore the next manipulation .

8. Delicate Clothing

In increase to dark and bright colored clothing , it is best to stay off from washing soft items with lemon . The acid in lemon juice can break fibers in touchy article of clothing items . Instead , use your preferred washing detergent and follow our guide onhand - washing delicate items .